199. Promotion
Chen Mansion, Mingquan Garden.
Different from Tingquan Garden which is full of clutter, this place is clean and elegant.
There are wintersweets planted in the yard, and it is the season when pink flowers are blooming. There is also a clear fish pond under the plum tree. When the red and white koi fish are motionless, they seem to be floating in the air.
There are brand new blue bricks on the ground, brand new tiles on the roof, brand new tables and chairs inside the house, and a step-out bed that the carpenter had just made.
Chen Ji looked around the yard, but there was no joy on his face.
Chen Liqin's transfer order will arrive in the next few days. No matter how good Mingquanyuan is, it is just a temporary residence.
At this time, a servant followed behind him, step by step.
Chen Ji turned around and looked at him: "Why are you following me?"
The servant hurriedly clasped his fists and replied, "The master has arranged for me to serve the Third Young Master. I was going to arrange for a maid, but it's too late today and I can't find a pawnbroker. Tomorrow, the master will send someone to the West Market in Luocheng to find a pawnbroker, who will bring over a maid from the slave trade for you to choose from."
Chen Ji suddenly realized that he was already the 'young master' of the Chen family.
He said casually, "Mingquan Garden doesn't need anyone to serve it, and there's no need to hire a maid. Go out, I want to speak to Master Zhang."
The servant said in embarrassment: "Master said -"
Chen Ji waved his hand and said, "Go out. I won't make things difficult for you. Just repeat my exact words to Master Chen.
When the servant heard the words "Master Chen", his eyelids twitched and he bowed and took his leave.
After the servant left, Zhang Zhuo stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, marveling, "Chen Liqin didn't assign you the Chen Mansion's former maid because he was worried that Liang would assign her own servants to your courtyard and secretly make things difficult for you or tip you off. This Master Chen is actually as clear as a mirror; he knows everything."
Zhang Xia muttered, "The Chen family has always been like this, or rather, the Donglin Party has always been like this. They say one thing and mean another, pretending to be ignorant even though they know the truth."
Zhang Zhuo surveyed Mingquan Courtyard. "Mrs. Liang is truly kind to her brother. The effort she put into renovating this courtyard is enough to build a whole new one. No wonder she didn't want you to live here. I'm afraid she's heartbroken now."
He turned to look at Chen Ji, only to see him bow deeply and sincerely say, "Thank you, Master Zhang, for your help."
Zhang Zhuo took two quick steps and helped him up. "What are you doing? When the Liu family was in trouble, you bravely stepped forward to save our Zhang family from danger. Helping you with this little thing is nothing. Besides, I have nothing better to do today, so coming to the Chen Mansion is more exciting than attending an opera."
Zhang Zheng laughed cheerfully and said, "How can listening to an opera be as exciting as acting in one?"
After saying this, he also imitated Chen Ji and bowed deeply: "I didn't have the chance before, but today I will thank you in person. You saved my Zhang family and you are so kind.
I, Zhang Zheng, will never forget this. If I ever rise to a high position in the government, I will surely be rewarded handsomely.
Zhang Zhuo cursed, "You are so stupid that you can't even understand what you read, and yet you still try to imitate words from other people's operas? What the hell are you doing in this high position?"
Zhang Zheng complained, "You're the one who won't let me take the imperial examination. Even Chen Wenxiao was able to pass the imperial examination, so why can't I? Why don't you ask my grandfather to help me? I want to be an official, too."
Zhang Zhuo laughed in anger. "The bloody storms of the imperial court are more dangerous than the swordplay of the martial arts world. The people of the martial arts world might show some leniency to their enemies, but the lords of the imperial court will kill anyone who stands in their way. Not letting you, a fool, hold an official position is for your own good."
Zhang Zheng wasn't angry either, but rather cheerfully said, "If you don't want to be an official, then don't be one. You are 70% intelligent and smart in our Zhang family, and your sister is 40%. I'm okay with being a little stupid."
Zhang Zhuo was at a loss for words. "Do you know how to count? This adds up to eleven points, a total of ten. Where did the extra point come from?"
Zhang Zheng was stunned for a moment: "Oh, really? Then I owe you one point."
Zhang Zhuo sighed.
Chen Ji explained solemnly, "Master Zhang, my thanks are not for what happened today, but for the Zhang family's cover for the Crown Prince and his men in leaving the Ning Dynasty. In this world, the Zhang family is willing to risk their lives to help me, and I will definitely remember this."
On the day of the prison break, if the Zhang family had not borrowed the relationship between Xu Shu of the Imperial Observatory and the Buddhist community, Chen Ji would have been helpless.
Zhang Zhuo sighed, "I've always admired Prince Jing as a man, and helping the prince isn't entirely for you. Right now, the prince and your master are sailing south, and will arrive at the Jing Dynasty's Lushun Port in about two months. However—"
Chen Ji asked, "Just what?"
Zhang Zhuo looked Chen Ji up and down. "I thought you would go with them to Jing Dynasty, but you didn't leave."
Chen Ji explained, "I haven't finished my work yet."
Zhang Zhuo and Zhang Xia both understood that there was only one thing that could leave traces behind, and this thing was harder than climbing to the sky.
Zhang Zhuo pondered for a moment: "You returned to the Chen family, hoping to use their power to rescue the princess?"
Chen Ji did not answer.
Now, even Yunyang and Jiaotu believed he had betrayed Prince Jing. Within the Ning Dynasty, the only people who knew his true intentions were Bailong, Jinzhu, Zhang Zhuo, Zhang Zheng, and Zhang Xia.
Zhang Zhuo patted his shoulder. "I'm afraid you're overthinking it. If you want to save the princess, you must first vindicate Prince Jing. Only then can the princess be exonerated. But the Chen family, from top to bottom, are experts at self-preservation. They won't speak out for a traitor."
Chen Ji said, "Thank you for your concern, Master Zhang. I have my own way."
Seeing that he didn't want to talk any more, Zhang Zhuo stopped asking questions and instead said earnestly, "Although I dragged you to the Zhang Mansion just now, it was a bit of a show, but it was also sincere. Why don't you marry into my family and become my adopted son? Or... From now on, your affairs will be mine. Once I enter the cabinet and become a minister, things will eventually turn around."
Chen Ji asked curiously, "How do we turn around?"
Zhang Zhuo looked around and said, "It was Your Majesty who wanted to kill Prince Jing, but Your Majesty will eventually pass away. That will be the time for a turning point."
The traces are satisfying,
The current emperor calls himself the Emperor of Longevity and devotes himself to practicing Taoism to prolong his life, seeking eternal life.
What Zhang Zhuo said was treasonous and he would never say it unless he was really close to someone.
This trust alone is not easy to come by.
Zhang Zhuo's words seemed to provide him with a way to save the princess - but it was too dangerous. Even if he practiced the mountain king's way,
I have never made such a bold idea.
Let's put it aside for now.
Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, and finally confessed: "Master Zhang, I came to the Chen family to save the princess, but I never counted on the Chen family."
Before he could finish his words, he heard footsteps outside the door.
Chen Liqin came over with big strides, and the servant behind him was holding a tray with melons and cucumbers on it.
Zhang Zhuo's eyes lit up and he exclaimed:
"Your family really knows how to enjoy things. You were able to find such a rare item in the winter, and you were willing to use it to treat us. Not bad!"
Chen Liqin responded indifferently, "It seems this is the first time that Master Zhang has praised me."
Zhang Zhuo reached out to grab the cucumber: "You deserve the praise!"
Chen Liqin pushed his hand away and said, "Master Zhang, you're too early to praise me. This isn't for you, it's for Chen Ji."
It was not easy to grow fruits and vegetables in the Ning Dynasty in winter. After the first snow, the only vegetables that ordinary people could see were radishes and cabbages.
Fruits are even more difficult to come by.
There was a Tangquan Division in the capital, which was responsible for the hot springs in the suburbs of Beijing. Melons, cucumbers and leeks were grown in the high-temperature caves around the hot springs, commonly known as "Dongzi Goods".
"Dongzi cucumbers" are extremely small, less than two inches long, yet they can sell for over a thousand coins each. For high-ranking officials in the capital, serving melons or cucumbers when entertaining guests was considered a huge honor.
Zhang Zhuo's eyes rolled. "Where did you get these cucumbers? Is the Chen family living such a luxurious life?"
Chen Liqin casually said, "There's a hot spring on Longmen Mountain in Luocheng. I had someone buy a piece of it a long time ago and plant fruits there."
After saying this, he placed the tray on the stone table in the courtyard and said as gently as possible, "Chen Ji, eat more. If it's not enough, I'll send someone to Longmen Mountain to get some fresh food."
Chen Ji did not refuse and bowed his hands in thanks: "Thank you very much, Master Chen."
Chen Liqin was speechless for a moment.
At that moment, a servant came running in from outside, shouting excitedly, "Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir! Someone from the capital has arrived, bringing your promotion documents!"
Chen Liqin turned around suddenly: "Really?"
"How dare I lie to you about something like this?" The servant ran into the courtyard and saw Zhang Zhuo, and hurriedly bowed. "Master Zhang is here too. Your promotion documents have arrived and are on their way to your residence!"
Zhang Zhuo raised his eyebrows: "And mine?"
Chen Ji looked up at the sky unconsciously. He knew that he would eventually leave Los Angeles.
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